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Max Verstappen says Red Bullâs âbig priorityâ after the summer break is to find more overall performance and fix the problems that can see them lose performance across a weekend or during a race. Verstappen said: "We need to first find more overall performance. Then we need to fix our problems, where we sometimes just lose performance over a weekend, or even from the start of the race to the end. So, yeah, that is also actually a big priority."
Sergio Perez says the biggest challenge of returning to a full-time Formula 1 drive with Cadillac has been getting back into the rhythm of the sportâs demanding schedule, after leaving the grid at the end of 2024. Perez said: "The biggest challenge was getting back to the rhythm of the schedule of an F1 driver, to be honest. Initially, like I was doing a test and then getting a message that I had to be in two days, in a different country, and then two days later in another country. Like getting up to [speed with] that, you tend to forget how the life of an F1 driver is, how busy and how scheduled everything is, you live through a schedule."
Andrea Stella said McLarenâs latest upgrades introduced a slightly different concept in parts of the MCL40 after the team decided it needed to âcorrect the callsâ made when designing the car over the winter, following Lando Norrisâ win in Hungary. Stella said: "I think the main aspect of these upgrades is that they introduce some parts that follow a slightly different concept in some areas of the car. We realised after we delivered the MCL40, and also to some extent looking at the concepts that were present in some cars that were faster than us, we realised that we needed to correct the calls."
Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson says he is no longer fixated on trying to reach Red Bullâs âtop teamâ and is instead focused on getting to the front and winning in Formula 1, wherever that opportunity comes. Liam Lawson said: "I think [my mindset] used to be, obviously, very specific: coming into Red Bull and trying to get to the top team. When I came into F1, and when I was young, that was really where my head was at, or what I thought about. But I think now, honestly, it's not specific. Like everybody else, I'm working towards being at the front and winning in Formula 1, and where that is, I have no idea. And I'm not too fussed about it, but that's what I'm working towards."
Lando Norris says he has had to change his driving style âevery single yearâ and believes Formula 1 drivers must adapt to whatever car they are given. Norris said: "I think the more experience you have in F1, the better equipped you should be. If you're not ready to adapt to a different car, then you're not at a good enough level. It's our job, it's what we've got paid millions to do. It's to drive any car you get given, whether it's a good one, a bad one, an easy one or a hard one. You have to do it."
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu says the 2026 rules overhaul has not been a âreality checkâ for midfield teams, arguing the gap to the front is not simply down to resources. Komatsu said: "I don't think so [that the regulation overhaul was a reality check for midfield teams]. I don't think it's just a resource gap. It's too simplistic to say that. It's not [just] about resources, I don't think. It's not as simple as that. But to be successful in F1, you've got to do everything right. You've got the right number of resources, finance backing, but the process has to be perfect."
Leonardo Fornaroli said a Formula 1 promotion in 2027 is a realistic goal, as the McLaren Driver Development Programme member continues to combine simulator work with further TPC and FP1 running in the second half of the 2026 season. Fornaroli said: "Absolutely. We're working on it, trying to make it happen. I'm focused now on the present and doing my job. There's still some work to do, but I think we're in a good place."
Alpine driver Franco Colapinto has said he was robbed while staying at Lake Como during the F1 summer break, with thieves taking a number of personal items including clothes. In a now-deleted social media post, Colapinto wrote: âWho would have thought that Italians would steal everything from a Latino,â before later changing âItaliansâ to âEuropeansâ amid what reports described as a backlash. He later posted: âLast photos of these clothes, mate, etc., etc.â
Red Bull technical director Pierre WachĂŠ says the team are still aiming for race wins this season and have a development plan running to the end of the year. Pierre WachĂŠ said: "Going for wins this year is what we aim for. We are trying to improve the car. Clearly, we have a development plan until the end of the year. For sure, in terms of efficiency, we have some limitations in the regulations that could limit what we are doing. But everything we can do to make the car capable of winning, could be Max or Isack, we are doing."
Lance Stroll says Aston Martinâs Hungaroring upgrade was the most encouraging the team have had, after a start to the season in which it scored just one point in the first 11 rounds. Stroll said: "It was the most encouraging upgrade we've had, I think, in a really, really long time, maybe in the history of this team. So, really good."
McLaren engineering technical director Neil Houldey said Ferrariâs volume of upgrades in the first half of the 2026 season has been an âinspirationâ, with McLaren looking at how the Italian team has managed to turn parts around so quickly. Houldey said: "From a volume stand it does look like Ferrari have managed to do a lot, and it's something for us to look at and understand how they were able to achieve that. Actually, how they turned around this stuff so quickly, it's an inspiration for us to look at and say: 'Come on, we did well in 2024. We did well in 2025. But actually, how do we do even better in 2026 and moving forward into 2027?'"
Formula 1 chief communications and corporate relations officer Liam Parker said the sport was already a âbig internationalâ global property under Bernie Ecclestone, as he reflected on how F1 has grown under Liberty Mediaâs commercial ownership. Parker said: "We shouldn't forget Formula 1 was a big international sport, a global sport, when Bernie was running it, and what Bernie did with it over those many years â what he wrestled and did what he did with the sport â was pretty impressive, you know?"
Formula 1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali says he believes Max Verstappen will stay in the sport, amid uncertainty over the four-time championâs future and his repeated criticism of the current regulations. Domenicali said: "Formula 1 is big enough for him to be part of us, but of course, he will decide the future the way he prefers to do, and the sport will look ahead. My opinion is that Max will stay with us. And I really hope so."
Jos Verstappen says Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko secured Max Verstappenâs move to the team in a â20 minuteâ conversation. Jos Verstappen said: "I remember it well. I was at Hockenheim, and it was a typical conversation with Helmut. He came over to our table and said, 'I only have 20 minutes.' I told him that was more than enough time to talk. His opening line was: 'I want Max with us in F1 next year'."
Laurent Mekies says Red Bullâs RB22 has been âvery sensitiveâ to minor factors, making it difficult for the teamâs drivers to manage. Mekies said: "Our car has been very sensitive to a number of small factors since race one, and we have suffered a lot in the first part of the season as well. It's enough that, if you pick up a bit of damage, let it be on gravel, on the kerbs, you get a different wind direction, and everything is a little bit on the edge in terms of performance."
Mercedes deputy technical director Simone Resta says the team must keep its focus on one race at a time and avoid getting distracted by championship talk, despite leading both championships at the summer break. Simone Resta said: "At the same time, we're only halfway through the season and there is still a great deal left to achieve. The focus has to remain on one race at a time. We can't become distracted by championship points or bigger picture conversations. We simply need to maximise every weekend, continue improving reliability, bring performance to the car and keep extracting everything possible from the package. There is still a long way to go."
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